To not to disturb Otterkins thread... here is my latest drawing of Henschel 129. This is what I got:
Now when I delete everything inside, I got this. For better illustration each separate line is colored differently:
But what I want is a clean outline, like this:
Now I do it manualy by modifying, cuting, and joining piece by piece into one single line. Any better idea? Something like when I want to paint it then in PS, I choose magic wand for outside and then invert?
Not sure how to do it in Illustrator but you could bring your paths into Photoshop and use the combine paths button. You need to select the paths you want to join with the solid select all paths arrow. Of course incomplete path may combine weird. If that works like you want you can bring the path back to illustrator. It might be a backward way of doing things but it will work until someone comes up with the correct way of doing it
If I understand your request, you want to create a total outline, or perimeter path, from the paths you have already created in Illustrator. Is this right?
If so, you can copy all the paths that will make up the outline (I mean the whole shapes, not just the bits of the path that make up the actual perimeter) into a new layer, name that layer "Outline", then with ONLY the paths in that layer selected, run the "Add to shape layer" option in your Pathfinder pallette. This is the top left option. If this gives you the result you want, you can then hit the Expand button in the same pallette which will turn it into a single shape.
This is a very powerful way of making complex shapes up out of simple paths and shapes.
1. Reduce the opacity of the original drawing by 50%.
2. Create a second blank layer and lock the first layer so you don't accidentally draw on it.
3. Select the pen tool and blank the fill box. If you don't it will interfere with your ability to see the shape below it. Select line width. One pixel is a good width for most sizes.
4. Start at any corner point on the perimiter and chase the outline around until the path is closed. You may have to use the elipse tool to get the tail wheel right. All you do is cut the lines and nudge it into position. Click on the end point with the pen tool to reactivate the path. Carry on with the pen tool until the outline is complete.
5. You can now delete the lower layer (this won't delete your original copy) and eithe save as an .ai file or export it directly to Photoshop to continue work on it there.
The same method can be used to isolate wings, engine nacelles, etc.
Oh.... I think my method is easier... select all the lines of which at least part creates outline, copy-paste somewhere, and join them together into single outline line. I just hoped there is a "few clicks" method of which I dont know.
You are probably right Zamex. I'm pretty new to both Illustrator and Photoshop. I was under the assumption that you had scanned the profile in. If you created it, then that's a whole new kettle of fish.
Linear Mode
